Paradoxes American Dream

There are many paradoxes when it comes to the American dream. Authors like Steinbeck often use paradoxes to convey their feelings when it comes to this topic. Steinbeck believes that the American dream is an illusion, and that unattainable dreams like it are necessary to make America bearable to live in. We are unable to pursue this seemingly far and illusionary dream because the majority of people are lacking in resources and opportunities. Steinbeck uses paradoxes that at first seem wild and mistaken, but when further researched are plausible and agreeable.

In Steinbeck’s essay, Paradox and Dream, he states with paradoxes the many ways that the American dream is outlandish and unattainable. Americans do not seem to truly know what they want from the people and the
We can observe this when a homeless man is asking for money, or even if he is just sitting on the street; people will call him names, give him fake money, or even ruin the food they were going to give him by spitting in it. Steinbeck writes, “Americans are remarkably kind and hospitable and open with both guests and strangers; and yet they will make a wide circle around the man dying on the pavement”(Paradox and Dream). One cannot say that all Americans are bystanders who only entertain the thought of being a helpful and proactive person, but there are a great deal of us, who in times of danger or emergencies will do nothing but stand idle instead of trying to help the situation. It seems as though Steinbeck is saying that Americans are fickle and that they feign hospitality to give off the impression of being a good person, because they themselves are insecure about their attributes and life. Us Americans like to live in ignorance and unawareness, we have opportunities to learn more about the world and how it works, yet a lot of us cannot name all seven